Government Relations

Government Relations Legislative Update

Friday, December 11, 2009

Committee Hearings and Upcoming Sessions

Committee Hearings On December 10, the Joint Committee on Economic and Job Development held a public hearing on SB 409, the Wisconsin C.O.R.E Jobs Act. Video footage of this hearing is available from WisconsinEye. The UW System supports this legislation (read the full bill position here) and individuals testifying in support of the bill included:

Joe Gow, Chancellor, UW-La Crosse

Maliyakal John, Managing Director, WiSys

Kathleen Enz Finken, Provost, UW-La Crosse

Tim Lyden, Professor, Department of Biology, UW-River Falls

Darrel Burnett, President, VeriPure, Inc.

The Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice held a public hearing on December 10 on AB 549, which requires psychological evaluations for law enforcement officers. The UW System also supports the passage of this legislation. The archived video footage is also available on WisconsinEye.

Upcoming Legislative Sessions Governor Doyle has called the Wisconsin Legislature into special session on December 16 to consider two bills:

SB 405, which allows mayoral oversight of Milwaukee Public Schools; and

AB 534, which empowers the state superintendent of public instruction to intervene in chronically failing schools.

The legislature is required to convene in special session, but is not required to vote on either piece of legislation. For more information, please see the governor's press release and news coverage from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Next week, the Senate and Assembly will also be meeting in extraordinary session to consider legislation to increase penalties for drunk driving.